Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-02-10
JUST LIKE MRS. STEVENS.
Mrs. Castana's Trouble Over Her
Marriage Settlement.
From the Ne'O York Star.

from Me Nefo 1O7G Stdf
The recent marriage of Mrs. Frederick
Stevens, an American belle of Newport,
who leaves large circle of friends and a
husband in New York, to the Marquis de
Talleyrand, has occasioned vast deal OF
trouble in this city to Mrs. Blanca V. Cas-
tana, wno is leading member of Italian
society in James slip, and prominent
peanut dealer on Park row.
Mrs. Castana'5 engagement to Capt
Tompkins OF the canal boat Daphne, now
laid UP by the coal strike, has long been
twittered by the birds of Paradise Park,
and has been an absorbing subject of
social gossip in the drawing rooms of
Mulberry street and the boudoirs of
Jersey row. Capt. Tompkins, who is
about the age OF the Marquis de Talley-
rand, belongs to one of the Oldest families
on The Jersey marshes, and comes OF
long line OF marine commanders and
nautical adventurers. His great grand
father was Captain of a lighter Just after
the revolution, one OF his great unoles was
a distinguished oyster pirate, his cousin
was First Lieutenant of mud scOw
in the metropolitan fleet, and for more
than forty years his gray-haired father
was the senior Captain on the Morris
and Essex canal. Mrs. Castana, though
plebian, is said to be descended from
one Of the most distinguished brigands in
Italy. She obtained a divorce a few
months ago through Messrs. Howe Il
Hummel on the ground OF cold feet. The
decree left Mrs. Castana with three pea
nut stands, four children and liberty to
contract new marriage alliance.
Though she was As years old she was a
belle in Italian society, and it is notable
coincidence that her age was the same
as that of Mrs. Stevens, who was belle
at Newport.
Mrs. Castana had $500 In the Blocker
Street Savings Bank. and she thought
that she might afford TO marry for title.
During the summer tour which Mrs. Cas-
tana made to New Jersey, with her three
peanut stands, at the lime of the Newark
fair, she met Capt. TOmpkins coming out
OF booth occupied by a ''negro minstrel
show" The captain had a title, and, if
one might judge by the DOomsday Book
of the Jersey City Police Court, he pos
sessed long lineage. They became ac-
quainted, fell in love in the way of what
is called "high sUciety," and were en-
gagged. The captain was infatuated with
Mrs. Castana's bank account, and Mrs.
Castana was intoxicated by the captains
title. He had never dared to hope of
marrying an heiress, and she had never
dreamed of marrying an officer. How
gaily the birds sang in Paradise Park
when the great society event of Five
Points, the approaching nuptial ceremo-
ny, was annOunced-tbere were two birds
in Paradise Park that day.
Everything was making ready for the
wedding; the exclusive circles OF Bottle
alley, the bon ton OF Battle row were in
whirl OF excitement; the florists of the
BOwery were working overtime; the Sun
day society journals were full of hints and
expectations about the great and awe-in-
spring event, and the Jersey newspapers
were printing complimentary Sketches of
the lives of the thigh contracting par
ties" when Mrs. Castana saw in a New
York newspaper an account of the nup-
tails of Mrs. Frederick Stevens and the
Marquis de Talleyrand, which she
thought was somewhat parallel to the
case of Capt. Tompkins and herself.
She read that Mrs. Frederick Stevens
was divorced, had $6,000,000 and four
children when she became engaged to the
Marquis de Talleyrand. She read also
that Mrs. Stevens hired as an attorney a
man OF the name of Edwards Pierrepont,
who had been United States Minister to
England, and that he spent month in
haggling over. the marriage settlement
with an army of French nOtarles and at
tOrneys, who had been hired by the Mar
quis de Talleyrsnd and who insisted on
the American belle giving the Marquis
the entire control of ner property. She
found that the affair was settled and the
wedding celebrated only by Mrs. Stevens
assigning 50, 900. 900 to her children and
retaining control over the $2,000,000 that
were left, and that after the brilliant
puptial ceremony Mrs. Stevens. now the
Marquise de Talleyrand, took the Mar
quis to live with her in great chateau
near Paris.
Mrs. Castana feared that in marrying
for title and social distinction she might
lose her peanut stands and her account
in the Blocker Street Savings Bank, and
she did not want to sacrifice her compare
lively large fortune for the sake of being
the grass widow of canal boat captain.
She employed eX-Sewer Commissioner
Perkins to act as her legal adviser in car
rying on negotiations for an ante-nuptIal
contract. Capt. Tompkins employed
Counsellors Virgins and Sligsby of the
Tom BIS Police Court TO represent his inter-
ests In the ante-nuptial contract. IL will
require month for eX-Sewer Commission
er Perkins and Councillors Virgins aud
Slagsby TO come to an agreement. Capt.
Tompkins' lawyers at first insisted that
the peanut stands and the bank account
should be handed over to him an hour
after the wedding. Ex-Sewer Commas
Il
take place unless Mrs. Castana was left
in absolute possession and enjoyment OF
the three peanut stands and the bank ac-
count. This was refused by Virgins and
Slagsby, on the ground that there was
no precedent. EX-Sewer Commissioner
Perkins then threatened that Mrs. Cas-
tana would marry Antonelli Vermicelli,
the monkey trainer, IL the Toombs Coun.
selors did not give in. The contract, as
now drawn, gives each of Mrs.
Castana's four children the sum OF 500
in trust, and gives to each of her three
sons peanut staud when he becomes of
age. Mrs. Castana retains 5000 in her
own right, and the absolute ownership
and management OF the three peanu.
stands. A copy OF the contract. IL signed,
will be taken to New Jersey to be verified
there.
Capt. Tompkins and Mrs. Castana are
TO be married by Justice Duffy at Jefier-
son Market Court before a brilliant throng
OF police officers and fashionable aud
exclusive social set from Mulberry street,
She will purchase tor Der home retired
canal boat near Jersey City, and 6t IL up
with princely elegance.
The fashions OF low inner bodices, with